Australian man
charged with offences including using criminal force against police
officers at Changi Airport
SINGAPORE - He is believed to be the man seen tussling with
policemen at Changi Airport last month, an incident which was
captured in two videos that went viral online.
And in court on Saturday (May 13), it emerged that Australian Jason
Peter Darragh, 44, had likely broken the law on multiple occasions
during several drunken sprees here, with a total of 11 charges
levelled against him.
He was charged with three counts of using vulgar language on police
officers and two counts of using criminal force on them.
He is also accused of two counts causing annoyance to others
while drunk in a public place.
In addition, Darragh was also charged with one count each of
assaulting a police officer, using abusive words on a man,
committing mischief and being found drunk and incapable of taking
care of himself in a public place.
He allegedly started his crime spree at the Departure Hall of
Changi Airport Terminal 2 between 12.15am and 12.30am on April
20.
He allegedly threw a man's mobile phone on the floor and used
vulgar language on him.
When two policemen - Inspector (Insp) Elzac Lim Chee Keong and
Senior Staff Sergeant (Sgt) Koh See Yong came forward, Darragh is
said to have pushed the officers and used threatened them using
vulgar language.
Darragh is also accused of hitting Senior Staff Sgt Koh in the
face.
And, according to court documents, at around 4.50am the next day,
Darragh apparently became drunk and caused annoyance in front of
McGettigan's CQ bar in Clarke Quay.
Darragh was also allegedly found drunk and incapable of taking care
of himself in a restroom at Orchard Towers shopping mall at around
12.20am on April 26.
He later ended up at Tan Tock Seng Hospital where he is said to
have hurled vulgarities at a third policeman, Sgt Ali
Kamaruzaman.
Then at around 5am on May 1, Darragh allegedly became drunk and
caused annoyance to a woman at a taxi stand at Tan Tye Place near
Clarke Quay.
He was offered a bail of $20,000 and will be back in court on
Friday.
-- ST